Gun control group takes aim at 'shoot-em-up' video games

Published: Friday, December 15, 2000

WASHINGTON {AP} Computer games endorsed by gun makers are "marketing tools to attract new customers for the gun industry," a gun control group contended Thursday.

A study prepared by the Violence Policy Center, a Washington-based gun control group, examined several computer games endorsed by Remington Arms Company, Colt Manufacturing Company and shooting magazine Guns & Ammo.

Several of the games, which feature the guns sold by the manufacturers, also contained digital and print gun catalogs. They also had no age rating designed like television and movie ratings to warn parents about objectionable content, the study said.

The study's authors also objected to the games' content. The game "Remington Top Shot" features human targets for the player to shoot the game calls them "interactive targets."

"These games, marketed as children's toys and sold through channels such as eToys.com are, in fact, marketing tools to attract new customers for the gun industry," said Marty Langley, the study's author and an analyst at the Violence Policy Center.

Representatives from Remington and Colt did not immediately return calls Thursday.

"You're looking at just another half-baked report from people who won't stop until all firearms are illegal," National Rifle Association spokesman Bill Powers said.